Buddy Handleson takes on new role

Thursday

Mar 21, 2013 at 12:01 AMMar 21, 2013 at 5:15 PM

By Kelli Plasket

TimeforKids.com

Actor Buddy Handleson, 13, has had guest roles on many shows, including Shake It Up! and Hannah Montana. Now, he's taking the lead in Nick at Nite's new comedy series Wendell & Vinnie, which airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. Saturdays.

Handleson plays Wendell, a smart-and-quirky kid who lives with his Uncle Vinnie, a bachelor who loves comic books and video games. Vinnie is played by Jerry Trainor, best-known for his role as Carly's brother Spencer on iCarly.

Time For Kids spoke with Handleson about the show, Trainor and school.

NICKELODEON PHOTO

Jerry Trainor, left, and Buddy Handleson in a scene from Wendell & Vinnie.

By Kelli Plasket

TimeforKids.com

Actor Buddy Handleson, 13, has had guest roles on many shows, including Shake It Up! and Hannah Montana. Now, heís taking the lead in Nick at Niteís new comedy series Wendell & Vinnie, which airs Saturdays at 8 p.m. Saturdays.

Handleson plays Wendell, a smart-and-quirky kid who lives with his Uncle Vinnie, a bachelor who loves comic books and video games. Vinnie is played by Jerry Trainor, best-known for his role as Carlyís brother Spencer on iCarly.

Time For Kids spoke with Handleson about the show, Trainor and school.

Q: What is your character Wendell like?

A: Wendell is very smart, quirky and comfortable with himself. Heís not like other kids, but he doesnít really care ...

Q: How does he relate to Vinnie?

A: His relationship with Vinnie is kind of just building up right now. ... Theyíre complete polar opposites. Wendell is an adult in a kidís body, and Vinnie is a kid in an adultís body, so they are figuring out how to cooperate with each other and live with each other.

Q: A photo on Twitter shows you after an "egg in the face" scene. Can you talk about that?

A: Oh, gosh, that scene. Yeah, that scene was fun to film ó the first time. ... A guy behind the camera ó one of our prop guys ó was going to splash me with egg yolk in a cup. I did not expect it to be slimy or cold. It was so ó oh gosh, I shudder. I was flinching before they even tossed the egg, so it didnít look real. So they said they were going to do a countdown (from "3" to "1," but on "3") they tossed the egg, and I was not expecting that at all.

Q: Do you think you are more like Wendell, or more like Vinnie?

A: I am a mix ... Vinnie likes video games and to watch TV (like me), but then heís really (into) sports. Iím not really into sports that much; Iím not really athletic. Wendell is smart and he likes to learn, and I like to learn too, so Iím kind of in the middle.

Q: What is Jerry Trainor like?

A: He is as funny as he seems on TV. Heís very loud, which is a plus because that teaches me to be louder. Heís very funny on set.

Q: How do you balance school and work?

A: School on set can be difficult at times, but I do manage mainly because of the help of everyone else. (The showrunners) try to plan everything out so the other actors get their scenes done (while) I get all my school work done ...

Q: Can you share five facts about yourself?

A: Sure. My favorite soda is Dr. Pepper. I have an Instagram and Twitter (account, Budster925). I like to play video games, but probably not as much as Vinnie does. I like to go to school ó not as much as Wendell does. And I like baseball. (My favorite team is) the San Francisco Giants.

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